Means for marking record elements



April 4, 1944. w. J. OPOCENSKY I MEANS FOR MARKING RECORD ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 50, 1942 Wi/lara d O aocemskjl Patented Apr. 4, 1944 MEANS FOR RECORD ELEMENTS Willard J. Opocensky, Glendale, Calif., assignor of one-half to Eastman Oil Well Survey Company, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Delaware, and one-half to Eastman Oil Well Survey Corporation, Long Beach, Calif., acorporation of California Application January 30, 1942, Serial No. 428,875

10 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in methods of and means for marking record elements.

In the Well survey art, the use of record or index elements have come into general use, such elements usually taking the form of a circular disk. This disk is arranged to be mounted within a uitable holder or carrier in a well survey instrument and when in position within said instrument, is associated with a plumb bob or pendulum which is located thereabove and which, upon an inclination of the instrument from the vertical, swings relative to the center of the disk or element. A marking means, either mechanical or photographic, is adapted to mark the record element in accordance with. the position of the plumb bob, whereby the mark so formed is indicative of the inclination of the instrument. To those familiar in this art, ,it will be apparent that when the instrument is inclined, due to its being lowered in an inclined well bore, the plumb bob remains vertical, with the result that the.

lower end of the plumb bob moves off-center of the record disk therebelow. By marking the position of the plumb bob relative to the record disk and then determining the number of degrees that the mark is from the center, of said disk, the inclination of theinstrument, in degrees, may be ascertained.

The present invention is not concerned with the construction of the well survey instrument,

or of the plumb bob or of the particular means. for marking the position of the plumb bob,

whether such means. he photographic. or mechanical. However, it hasbeen found that in order to accurately determine the exact position or the mark, which indicates the plumb bob position, it is desirable, and almost essential, that the record element or disk be imprinted or pro-v vided with concentric reference lines which are representative of degrees. These lines have ordinarily been printed on the disk at the time, or subsequent to, the cutting outor formation of said disk. Obviously, because of the extreme accuracy required, it has been diflicult to accurately position said lines so that they are exactly concentric to the center of said disk. The slightest movement of the disk during printing results in inaccuracy of positioning of the lines and subsequently, in an inaccurate reading of the record obtained.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved method for forming the concentric after the disk has been formed, whereby extreme accuracy in positioning said lines is assured.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved method of forming the concentric reference lines on a record disk which consists in first mounting the disk in a carrier or support, and then bringing said disk into contact with a marking block, and then rotating said block while preventing lateral displacement of'the block relative to the disk, to imprint or form the reference lines on said disk.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for forming the l concentric reference lines on a record disk including a circular marking block having an outer diameter substantially equal to the disk so that said, block'will fit within the carrier or support which carries said disk, whereby said carrier or support acts as a guide to prevent lateral displacement of the block relative to the disk during the marking operation and also whereby accu rate positioning of the lines, exactly concentric to the center of said disk, is assured.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the character described wherein the marking block is provided with concentric annular marking ridges or projections constructed of a metal capable of marking the material of which the record element is constructed, the provision of said ridges assuring that all disks are marked or lined in an identical manner.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus, of the character described, wherein the material, of which the record element is constructed, may be coated on one surface with a suitable substance which will facilitate marking of said surface by a relatively soft V metal, such as brass, or the like.

reference lines on the record element or disk as The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

"The invention will be more readily understood froma reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, as an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

- Figure l is an elevation of the marking device,

con'structed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the marking device, illustrating the annular concentric marking ridges or projections,

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the upper por-.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the record element having the reference lines thereon.

In the drawing, the numeral H] designates a solid head or body which is formed with an in tegral, depending skirt or collar II. The outer periphery of the head or body may be knurled as shown at IE to facilitate manual gripping thereof, The bore l3 of the annular skirt II is adapted to receive a marking block M which is provided with an external annular flange at its upper end. The upper surface of the block Hi engages the bottom [6 of the head or body it and is held in position within the bore of the skirt by an upstanding stud or pin I! which is preferably formed integral with the block and which is threaded into an axial bore [8 formed in the head or body.

The bottom or lower surface of the marking block M is formed'with a plurality of ridges or projections [9 which are preferably integral with the block. As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, each ridge is substantially triangular in cross-section with the apex of the triangle being at the lower end and with this arrangement, the edges of the ridges or projections are sharpened to substantially a knife-edge. A single conical projection 28 is disposed at the center of the block, as is clearly indicated in Fig. 3, but if desired, this projection may be omitted. The annular projec tions or ridges '9! are arranged in concentric relation and five of such ridges or projections are shown, the ridges being indicated by the numerals ltd, Hib 19c, Hid and We in Fig. 3. Each projection or ridge is representative of a predetermined number of degrees from the center projection 20 of the block. For the purposes of this description, it will be assumed that the projections are each representative of one degree, moving outwardly from the center of the b ock. Thus, theprojection lea, indicates one degree of inclination from the center projection 20, the projection [9b indicates two degrees and so on to the outer peripheral edge of the block.

The marking device illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 is adapted to form concentric reference lines on a record element or disk 2|. This element may be formed of paper, or other suitable material and is arranged to be mounted within a carrier 22 of a well survey instrument (not shown). The carrier includes a cylindrical body 23 which is formed with an annular collar 24 preferably made integral with its upper end. The

bore 25 of the collar is of the same diameter as the diameter of the record element or disk 2|,

whereby the disk has a snug fit within the collar.

neath the disk '2! to facilitate removal of said disk from the carrier or support 22.

- the well survey instrument, swings and the purpose of this arcuate surface is to assure an accurate reading throughout all positions of the plumb bob. Obviously, when the disk 2| is positioned within the collar 24 on the arcuate upper surface 2'5, said disk will assume the same arc, as is clearly shown in Figure 5. Since the marking block i=3 is to co-act with the disk it, as will be hereinafter explained, the lower surface of the block is also shown as being arcuate, the

curvature of such lower surface being the same as the curvature of the supporting surface 21 and of the disk resting on said surface. It is pointed out that the surface 27 could be flat, in which case the lower surface of the marking block would also be flat; however, as pointed out above, a more accurate reading is obtained by curving these surfaces concentric to the arc through which the lower end of the plumb bob (not shown) swings.

The record element or disk 2| is a blank, that is, there are no markings on said disk. The disk is inserted within the collar 2 of the carrier so as to rest upon the supporting surface 2'! of said carrier. After the disk is positioned, the marking device shown in Figures 1 to 3 isplaced in position over the upper end of the carrier, as is clearly shown in Figure 5. The outer diameter of the marking block 14 is the same as the bore 25 of the collar 24. Thus, when the skirt H is engaged 'over the upper end of the carrier, the marking block it enters the collar 24 and has a snug fit therein.

The marking block I4 is then moved downwardly until the projections I9 and 20 engage the upper surface of the disk orelement 21. After this occurs, :a downward pressure is exerted on the block and at the same time, said block is rotated with respect to the disk 2| and carrier 22' by -manually rotating the head or body I0 and block l' 'i secured thereto. Such rotation will result in the sharpedges of the projections 19 and 20 marking the upper surface of the disk 2|. It is preferable that the projections I9 and 20 be formed of asoft metal, such as brass or the like, whereby marking of the disk is facilitated. Insom'e instances, it might be desirable to employ a paper disk provided with a suitable coating on its upper surface, such coating further facilitating the marking thereof. It is pointed out that .during the rotation of the block, the outer periphery of :said block is engaging the wall of the collar 24 and is thereby held in positive axial alinement with the disk 21, whereby lateral displacement of the .block relative to the disk is prevented. In this manner, the proper positioning of the lines which are formed by the projections! and 20 is assured and said lines are located in theproper concentric relation on the disk. 1

After the rotation ofqthe block, the marking device is removed from the upper end of the carrier and a plurality of concentric lines 30 have been formed on the disk. These lines are clearly shown in Figures-6 and '7 and have been identifled by the numerals 30a, 30b, 30c, 36d and the, said lines having been formed by the projections |9a to ltefrespectively. The center projection ,20 .on theimarking block has formed a dot 20a,,

at the center of the disk 2|. Since, as explained, the concentric lines on the block H are properly positioned to indicate degrees from the center of the block, the lines 300. to 30c indicate degrees from the center of the disk 2|. The positive guiding of the marking block during the marking operation assures that the lines will be properly positioned on the disk or element 2| and the chances for errors are eliminated. Of course, after the disk or element 2| has been marked it is inserted into a well survey instrument (not shown) and the record of the plumb bob position with relation to the disk is made. The provision of the lines on the disk 2| permit an accurate reading or interpretation of the indication made on the disk during operation of the well survey instrument.

The improved method is carried out entirely by hand. The blank disk is placed within its carrier or support and then the marking device shown in Figures 1 to 3 is engaged over the carrier to insert the block M within the collar 24 and in engagement with the disk therein. The marking device is then rotated to form the concentric lines in their proper position on the disk, after which the marking device is removed. The method permits the disk 2| to be cut out in blank and since the same marking device is used on all of the disks, all of the concentric lines formed thereon are in exactly the same position. There is no variance in the position of the lines on the disks and obviously, this is advantageous and substantially essential for accurate reading or interpretation of the complete well survey record.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A marking device for forming concentric lines on a record including, a body having a depending annular skirt, a circular marking block removably mounted within the skirt and having its outer wall spaced from the inner wall of the skirt to form an annular space therebetween, and a plurality of concentric projections on the lower surface of the block.

2. A marking device for forming concentric lines on a record disk including, a body having a depending annular skirt, a circular marking block removably mounted within the skirt and having its outer wall spaced from the inner wall of the skirt to form an annular space therebetween, and a plurality of concentric projections on the lower surface of the block, each projection having its lower edge sharpened to provide a knife-edge.

3. A marking device for forming lines on a record element including, a body having a depending annular skirt, a circular marking block disposed within the skirt and having its outer wall spaced from the inner wall of the skirt to provide a space therebetween, and a plurality of marking projections on the lower surface of the block.

4. A marking apparatus for forming concentric lines on a record disk including, a support having a recessed upper end and adapted to receive the record disk, a marking block of substantially the same diameter as the recess of the support and movable thereinto, whereby the outer surface of the block co-acts with the inner walls of the recess to axially guide said marking block as it moves therein, and a plurality of projections on the lower surface of the block and arranged to engage the upper surface of the record disk to effect marking of said disk.

5. A marking apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the marking projections on the marking block extend from the block a distance which is less than the depth of the recess in the support, whereby said block enters the recess and is axially alined therein prior to the engagement of the projections with the record disk.

6. A marking device for forming concentric lines on a record disk including, a body having a depending annular skirt, a circular marking block disposed Within the skirt and having its outer wall spaced from the inner wall of the skirt to form an annular space therebetween, a plurality of concentric projections on the lower surface of the block, and a single tapered projection at the center of the block, all of said projections extending outwardly substantially equal distances from the surface of the block.

'7. In combination, a support having its upper end recessed for receiving an element to be marked, a marking block of substantially the same diameter as the element and insertable within the recess of the support above the element within said recess, and marking projections on the bottom of said block adapted to engage the element within the support to mark the same.

8. In combination, a support having its upper end recessed for receiving a blank element to be marked, a, marking block of substantially the same diameter as the recess in said support and insertable therein, and a plurality of concentric marking projections on the lower surface of the block and arranged to engage the upper surface of the element within the recess of said support and to mark said element when the block is rotated, the block co-acting with the support to guide said block and prevent lateral displacement thereof when said block is rotated.

9. A marking device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the block is convex and wherein all of said projections extend substantially the same distance from said convex surface.

10 A marking device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the lower surface of the marking block is slightly convex and wherein the wall of the recess which is adapted to receive the disk to be marked is arcuate and complementary to the convex lower surface of said block.

WILLARD J. OPOCENSKY. 

